Promena Announces 2026 Top 100 Elite Trailblazers of Impact

To celebrate 30 years of impact and 20 years of leadership awards, Promena has introduced the 2026 Top 100 Elite Trailblazers of Impact—honoring past awardees who continue to redefine excellence across global industries.

Promena has officially launched the 2026 Promena Top 100 Elite Trailblazers of Impact, a special milestone class honoring exceptional leaders chosen from two decades of previous Top 100 honorees. Marking Promena’s 30th anniversary and 20 years of leadership recognition, this initiative highlights past awardees across business, technology, healthcare, and public service who have continued to drive measurable, inclusive, and transformative industry impact.

Special Anniversary Recognition Celebrates 30 Years of Promena and 20 Years of Top 100 Leadership Recognition

Chicago, IL — August 5th  Promena proudly announces the launch of the 2026 Promena Top 100 Elite Trailblazers of Impact, a special anniversary recognition honoring distinguished leaders selected from the existing body of Top 100 honorees across the platform’s 20-year history.

Created in celebration of Promena’s 30th anniversary and 20 years of Top 100 leadership recognition, this milestone class honors leaders whose careers have continued to reflect excellence, influence, innovation, inclusive leadership and measurable impact across business, entrepreneurship, academia, health care, finance, technology, civic leadership, public service, nonprofit leadership and community transformation.

The Top 100 platform has long recognized executive and emerging leaders who are redefining leadership and advancing excellence across industries. The 2026 Elite Trailblazers of Impact recognition builds on that legacy by honoring former Top 100 honorees whose leadership has continued to expand beyond their original recognition year.

“This anniversary recognition allows us to honor leaders who did not simply receive recognition they continued to lead, build, influence and open pathways for others,” said Pamela A. McElvane, CEO of Promena. “As Promena celebrates 30 years of impact and 20 years of Top 100 leadership recognition, we are proud to elevate leaders whose careers represent sustained excellence and whose influence continues to set the standard.”

The 2026 class was selected through an editorial and research-based review process from the historic Top 100 honoree database. In addition to Promena’s internal review, the process included external fact checking and publicly available research to confirm current leadership roles, professional progression, enterprise influence, industry visibility and continued impact. Candidates were evaluated based on sustained professional achievement, trailblazing leadership, inclusive leadership impact, enterprise or community influence and legacy relevance.

As part of this anniversary recognition, Promena will also present the Promena Top 100 Trailblazer Legacy Award, the highest individual distinction within the 2026 Elite class. The 2026 honoree is Calvin Butler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Exelon, whose leadership reflects sustained executive excellence, enterprise impact and legacy influence.

The 2026 Promena Top 100 Elite Trailblazers of Impact will be recognized as part of Promena’s anniversary celebration and featured across Promena’s media, Dynasty Media, events, recognition platforms and leadership community.  www.promenasetthestandard.com

Media Contact: sasha@promenasetthestandard.com

(alphabetical order by first name)

Airica Steed, EdD,CEO & Managing PrincipalBreakthrough Innovation Partners, LLCOriginal Top 100: 2014Allyn ShawEVP, CxO Office of the CTO & Re-ImagineWells FargoOriginal Top 100: 2019
Andres IrlandoPresidentZayo GroupOriginal Top 100: 2014Angela ElbertPartner & Chair of Insurance Policyholder Practice GroupNeal Gerber & EisenbergOriginal Top 100: 2013
Arthur MillerChairman of the Board of DirectorsIllinois Hispanic Chamber of CommerceOriginal Top 100: 2016Ashleigh HargraveSenior Vice PresidentFleishmanHillardOriginal Top 100: 2018
Ashley FinanGlobal Fellow, Center on Global Energy Policy; Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Global Energy CenterFinanOriginal Top 100: 2020Ather Williams IIISVP, Head of Strategy, Digital, Innovation & Enterprise PaymentsWells FargoOriginal Top 100: 2008
Brian TippensSVP, Chief Social Impact & Sustainability Officer, CiscoOriginal Top 100: 2016Brooke StoryPresident, Integrated Diagnostic SolutionsBDOriginal Top 100: 2017
Calvin ButlerPresident & CEOExelonOriginal Top 100: 2011Chloe BrazeySenior Managing Director (Retired)AccentureOriginal Top 100: 2008
Cindi Evans GalvanEVP, National Accounts USA, TriMark, USAOriginal Top 100: 2016Conrod RobinsonManaging Director, Risk ManagementJPMorgan ChaseOriginal Top 100: 2008
Cory OliverCEO, Community Investment Venture Corporation (CIVC)Original Top 100: 2022Cynthia BowmanVP, Global Talent & People Business PlanningApple, Inc.Original Top 100: 2009
Danielle M. RobinsonVP, Community AffairsDiageoOriginal Top 100: 2012Darius SweetNon-Employee Chairman of the Board of DirectorsGTI Statia Holdings, LTDOriginal Top 100: 2008
Dee M. RobinsonFounder, Board Director & InvestorRobinson Hill Corp.Original Top 100: 2011Deniqua CrichlowSVP, People & CultureFive9Original Top 100: 2019

(alphabetical order by first name)

Denise Russell FlemmingsEVP & Chief Information Officer of Technology & Digital ServicesBDOriginal Top 100: 2007Derek Robinson, MDVP & Chief Medical OfficerBCBS ILOriginal Top 100: 2016
Derica RiceEVP & PresidentCVS CaremarkOriginal Top 100: 2009Donta’ WilsonChief Consumer and Small Business Banking Officer and member of the Truist Operating CouncilTruistOriginal Top 100: 2009
Dorri Mc WhorterPresident & CEOThe Executives’ Club of ChicagoOriginal Top 100: 2009Edward MageeChief Operating OfficerBelmont University / Thomas F. Frist Jr. College of MedicineOriginal Top 100: 2009
Eli VazquezChief Executive OfficerBank Fund Staff Credit UnionOriginal Top 100: 2009Elif Sagsen-ErcelFormer President, Business Customer Solutions (BCS) and EVP, Chief Strategy & Transformation OfficerRR DonnelleyOriginal Top 100: 2019
Ellen-Blair ChubeManaging Director & Client Service Officer, Investment BankingWilliam Blair & CompanyOriginal Top 100: 2013Ellie Boldenow BjorklundManaging DirectorJPMorgan ChaseOriginal Top 100: 2015
Esperanza SegarrManaging Litigation Attorney, Aero Law CenterOriginal Top 100: 2017Esther WildenbergPresident & CofounderCodeBreaker Technologies, LLCOriginal Top 100: 2017
Fatima Cody Stanford MDObesity Medicine Physician Scientist, Mass General BrighamAssociate Professor, Harvard Medical SchoolHarvard UniversityOriginal Top 100: 2022Fiona TanChief Technology OfficerWayfairOriginal Top 100: 2017
Gary CaoPrincipal AdvisorCAO Chief Analytics Officer, LLCOriginal Top 100: 2015Germaine HunterVice President, HR WorkforceGE AerospaceOriginal Top 100: 2017
Gil De Las AlasChief Human Resources OfficerUlineOriginal Top 100: 2013Greg HernandezHealthcare Executive DirectorGenetechOriginal Top 100: 2014
Heather NelsonPresident & CEOSpring BankOriginal Top 100: 2008Hozefa LokhandwalaCEO & EVPAMC Global MediaOriginal Top 100: 2015

(alphabetical order by first name)

Indira Saladi
President
Orchard, Inc.
Original Top 100: 2016
Jacqueline Alonso
President,
Horizon Casualty ServicesHorizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Original Top 100: 2010
James E. Taylor, PhD
SVP & Chief Community, Culture, and Talent Management Officer
UPMC
Original Top 100: 2013
Jennifer Brown
CEO & Founder
Jennifer Brown Consulting
Original Top 100: 2019
Jerome Byers
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Indelible Business Solutions
Original Top 100: 2012
John S. Smith
Chief Human Resources Officer
ACH Food Companies
Original Top 100: 2008
Capt. Joseph Perez, MD
Chief Medical Officer
U.S. Coast Guard
Original Top 100: 2014
Joy Barua
President
Finance Insurance Ltd.
Original Top 100: 2015
Karen Donaldson
V.P. North America
Talking Talent
Original Top 100: 2012
Kathy Sterio
President
GE Lighting, a Savant company
Original Top 100: 2014
Katya LeBlanc, PhD
Division Director, Nuclear Safety & Regulatory Research
Idaho National Laboratory
Original Top 100: 2019
Keith Wyche
Best Selling Author & Independent
Board Director,
Brinks, Inc.
Original Top 100: 2007
Kelly Garrett Zeigler
Senior Vice President, Global Consumer Research and InsightsPearson
Original Top 100: 2020
Kenard Gibbs
VP Midwest
BET Networks
Original Top 100: 2013
Kristin Oliver
Chief Human Resources Officer
Hyatt Hotels
Original Top 100: 2011
Kyra Patterson
SVP & CHRO
Avangrid
Original Top 100: 2016
Lakshman Charanjiva
Partner, Head of Portfolio
OperationsBC Partners
Original Top 100: 2009
Lauren Guthrie
Chief Inclusion & Belonging & Talent Officer
VF Corporation
Original Top 100: 2018
Lauren Young, EdDVP & Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
Travelers Insurance Co
Original Top 100: 2020
Lisette Martinez Peacock
Founder & President
Salina’s Consulting
Original Top 100: 2016

(alphabetical order by first name)

Mackenzie Phillips
Chief Movement Officer
MAEVE40 Fitness, LLC
Original Top 100: 2016
Manika Turnbull
SVP & CHROHCSC
Original Top 100: 2013
Manoj Kumbhat
Global CDO & CIO
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Original Top 100: 2017
Mary Chatman, PhD
Executive Vice President, Acute Care
Wellstar Health System
Original Top 100: 2018
Maurice Holmes
Chief Revenue Officer & Head of Business Development
HNSI Power
Original Top 100: 2008
Meeta Yadava
Managing Director,
BMO Family Office BMO Financial Group
Original Top 100: 2017
Michael Millegan
CEO & Independent Director
Millegan Advisory 3LLC
Original Top 100: 2013
Michelle Gaskill-Hames
Regional President
Kaiser Permanente
Original Top 100: 2010
Michelle Kumbier
SVP & Group President
Briggs & Stratton
Original Top 100: 2008
Monica Pool Ross (Knox)
CEO & Founding General Partner
Good Trouble Ventures
Original Top 100: 2008
Mukund Kaushik
Chief Technology Officer
Inspire
Original Top 100: 2017
Nadine Vogel
CEO
Springboard Consulting
Original Top 100: 2011
Natalia Bravo Riofrio
Vice President Procurement Americas
Campari Group
Original Top 100: 2019
Nicole H. Husband, Esq.
Vice President, People & Culture
Warner Bros. Discovery
Original Top 100: 2015
Nicole Wiggins
Chief Diversity Officer
International Truck
Original Top 100: 2017
Dr. Nika White
President and CEO
Nika White + Company
Original Top 100: 2016
Poonam Gupta
Founder & CEO
Iyka Enterprises, Inc. & Creator of Varna-CQ™ and Author of Varna: Know Your Why
Original Top 100: 2014
Puneet Mahajan
EVP & Chief Financial Officer
Suffolk Construction
Original Top 100: 2016
Raquel Karls
Chief People Officer
REI
Original Top 100: 2013
Reginald J. Miller
Chief Culture & Inclusion Officer
GE Vernova
Original Top 100: 2017

(alphabetical order by first name)

Robert Mueller
President & CEO
RIM Logistics
Original Top 100: 2015
Rodrigo Garcia
Global Chief Financial Officer
Talipot Holding
Original Top 100: 2014
Ronald Phillips
EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer
Sysco
Original Top 100: 2008
Ruben Garcia Espejo
SVP, Financial Planning and Analysis
Vistra Corp.
Original Top 100: 2015
Sandra Washington
Chief Nurse, Medical Specialty Clinics
Department of Veterans Affairs
Original Top 100: 2016
Sanjay Gupta
EVP, Chief Transformation Officer
Novant Health
Original Top 100: 2014
Sarita Rao
President, Integrated & Partner Solutions
AT&T
Original Top 100: 2016
Shantel Davis
Vice President and General ManagerT
he Greenbrier Companies
Original Top 100: 2013
Shelbourn Stevens
Founder
SOS Performance Strategies
Original Top 100: 2014
Sheri Hawkins
Global Head of Product
Northern Trust Asset Management
Original Top 100: 2014
Shoeb Sitafalwalla, MD
EVP, Chief Strategy Officer
Advocate Health
Original Top 100: 2016
Steven Cade
Partner
Foley & Lardner
Original Top 100: 2016
Suri Surinder, DBA
Co-Founder & CEO
CTR Factor, Inc.
Original Top 100: 2013
Tabrina Davis
Vice President & Chief Communications Officer
First Energy
Original Top 100: 2008
Tiffany Masson
PresidentKansas Health Science Center
Original Top 100: 2013
Tomas Leon
President
Equality Health Foundation
Original Top 100: 2016
Vicki LinsPresident & CEOCTAMOriginal Top 100: 2008Vijay Parmar
Vice President, Sales Enablement
Motivus
Original Top 100: 2008
Vik Reddy, MDEVP, Chief Clinical Officer Northeast Georgia Health System.Original Top 100: 2020Wm Jahmal Miller
Chief Administrative Officer,
Mercy Medical Group 
(A member of Common Spirit Health)
Original Top 100: 2014

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